Chapter Text
Félix Graham de Vanily twirled the wedding ring in his fingers, his mind lost in thought. He lounged in one of the large chairs of his bedroom, staring at the wind-blown trees through the floor-to-ceiling windows. His small, black kitten mewled at him crossly, expecting to be carried, but Félix’s mind was somewhere else entirely.
His trip to Paris had been… interesting.
Sure, he might’ve overstepped the line by making Adrien’s friends think he hated them, but hey, bygones should be bygones. Besides, it all worked out for Adrien in the end.
Félix huffed. It always worked out for Adrien in the end.
See, it wasn’t that Félix disliked Adrien. He was just… very selective in taking in his attributes. He just didn’t understand how he could be a ball of freaking sunshine all the time and—
Felix did his magic trick with the ring. Only Arsène was watching. He did not seem impressed.
“You’re terrible audience,” Félix muttered. The cat blinked.
There was a knock on the door.
“Darling?” Amélie’s voice rang, high pitched and clear, from the other side of the door. Félix did not move, nor did he answer. Amélie opened the door and frowned.
“Have you fed Arsène? He’s looking at you like you’re fish,” she pointed out. Félix shrugged, not picking himself up.
“He’s got food, he just doesn’t want to eat it,” Félix replied. He looked at his mother from over the arm of the chair. “Did you need something?”
Amélie hesitated, her hand on the knob, as if she didn’t dare come into the room completely. This immediately set Félix on high alert—if something was bothering his mother—
He hid his apprehension and dropped his arm over the side of the chair, allowing Arsène to play with his fingers. The cat pawed at them, and Félix almost smiled. He looked up at his mother again, who seemed to be at war with herself.
“You’re going to worry me if you keep looking like that,” Félix pointed out. Amélie sighed.
“I’m sorry, dear,” she said finally, biting her lip and looking at the floor for a moment, gathering her words. “I just…”
Finally, Félix picked himself up from the chair, scooping Arsène in the process, and faced his mother. “What’s wrong?”
Amélie shook her head. “Nothing’s wrong, I just…” she sighed and finally met Félix’s gaze. There was something soft but troubled in her eyes, and Félix immediately knew this conversation was about to turn south. “You… miss your father.” A statement. Félix did not respond. Amélie nodded to herself. “I worry that you…” she pressed her lips together and took a deep breath. “You’re lonely, Félix.”
Félix blinked. “I’m sorry?”
Amélie finally let go of the doorknob and finished entering Félix’s room. Now that she had, she began pacing in front of him. The effect would have been funny, had he not been so concerned.
“You were never big on friends,” Amélie rushed, and Félix had the distinct impression that she had been practicing this speech. “And, well, after your father— I just—“
“Mother,” Félix cut through his mother’s rant. She looked both grateful and scared. “What are you talking about?”
“I’m saying, I don’t want you to be lonely,” she said finally. Félix blinked.
“I’m not, I—“
“I don’t mean Arsène. Or Doyle. Or Agatha. Or any of your pets,” Amélie explained gently. “I want you to have friends—human friends.”
Félix frowned. “I fail to see where you’re going with this.”
Amélie didn’t meet his gaze. She fiddled with her own wedding ring, which she hadn’t removed since his father had passed.
“I mean, maybe it’s time we move closer to family,” she said. “To Paris.”
Félix blinked slowly, waiting.
“Please don’t look at me like that,” Amélie begged.
“I’m waiting for you to realize what a catastrophically bad idea this is.”
“Listen, I dislike Gabriel as much as you do,” she admitted. “But Adrien is your cousin. He can introduce you to his friends. He can—“
“Why would I want that?” Félix cut sharply. His mother didn’t flinch.
“Darling, I’m trying to do what’s best for us.”
“Is ‘what’s best for us’ moving to the city that’s attacked by monsters every other week?” Félix asked. He could feel his temper slipping. “Besides, why would we do that? Adrien is so—“
“Félix,” Amélie cut him off before he could tail and adjective on his cousin. “Adrien is all that’s left of our family,” Amélie reasoned. “A connection with him will do you good. Besides, who knows? You might even become good friends.” She smiled hopefully. Félix groaned internally. Why did she have to look like that.
“Mother—“
“Darling,” she interrupted. “Let’s try this. A semester. When it’s over, we can talk about coming back. Please?” She intertwined her fingers in front of her chest, a begging gesture.
Félix groaned, audibly this time. “Alright, fine,” he said. “But I promise, this is going to be a nightmare.”
“—This is going to be a nightmare,” Plagg stated as he popped another slice of cheese into his mouth. He floated happily, a foot above the bed, while Adrien watched him as he arranged himself for bed.
“I’ve told you not to eat in bed,” Adrien chided. “Why is it going to be a nightmare?—finish chewing before you answer.”
Plagg huffed, but did as he was told. Once his mouth was empty, he belched before speaking.
“Really, kid? Your cousin impersonated you. He created three Akumas in one go. I don’t think even your father has managed that so far.”
Adrien sighed. “I know what you mean, but Félix is family. He’s not taking his father’s death too well, try not to be too hard on him.”
“You’re too nice, kid. It’s going to bite you in the butt.” Plagg yawned loudly. “Don’t make me say I told you so,” he said, slowly lowering himself to the pillow. Adrien rolled his eyes.
“It’ll be fine, Plagg. You’ll see how Félix gets along with everyone in no time. He just needs an opportunity.”
“Famous last words…” Plagg uttered, but he was far too asleep to articulate them correctly.
Adrien shook his head and lay down on the pillow. “You’re exaggerating,” he said, more to himself than to Plagg.
Adrien should really learn not to take bets against a god.